BYD e6 available to U.S. consumers in 2010 2011 2012 2013; Hertz gets it first

The BYD E6 is a football. No, not a political one like the Chevy Volt. Rather, it is the pigskin that the cartoon character Lucy would hold in place, but then snatch away when Charlie Brown's ever-hopeful foot was in mid-swing.

BYD has, yet again, placed an example of its all-electric e6 crossover on display at an American auto show and is, once more, teasing us with promises of bringing it to the U.S. market. This time, for reals. Yeah, we've heard similar claims about 2010, which were then changed to 2011. Then shifted to 2012 and, later, mid-2012.

Now, BYD USA president Michael Austin says that the vehicle will be certified for sale in the U.S. before the end of the year and, after first being made available to fleets such as Hertz (with whom BYD already has a relationship), will be offered for sale to consumers. There is, however, one slight caveat. He also mentioned that would only happen when the charging network is further developed.

Apparently, the company doesn't believe that charging infrastructure in the U.S. has evolved to the point where the E6, with its 186-mile estimated range, is yet practical for buyers. This was, if you'll recall, also last year's stated excuse for the delays. While it it tempting to point out that the 73-mile Nissan Leaf has sold over 11,000 units in the past year and so this is really a poor pretense, we will refrain.

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Anonymous

Ah yeas BYD. No longer just an old fashioned type of mens underwear, but a never eventuating EV from the PRC. BYD (Build your dream) is the logo for the partially state owned BYD Auto Co., Ltd. 比亚迪汽车; Pinyin: Bǐyàdí Qìchē) of Shenzhen, Guangdong Province BYD started life as a collectivised rechargeable battery maker. It's 'privatisation' to influential party officials, created controversy, but soon BYD was to prove extraordinarily adept at extracting investment capital from such diverse sources as the PLA,CCP, PRC Government, Provincial Government, Warren Buffet, Daimler AG, etc. BYD, has successfully ignored or brushed aside claims by Honda of copying and patent infringement! Equally ignored are claims by Toyota of several models and various other IP theft claims by a wide assortment of Western manufacturers. In 2010 a row broke out between BYD Chairman Wang Chuanfu and various government officials, over the illegal seizure by BYD of farm land owned by peasants. The PRC government halted construction of a third Xi'an production site until the dispute was resolved, and threatened confiscation. BYD finally increased the bribes(Fees) and construction recommenced. The peasants were forcibly "relocated' to Tibet by the Internal Security Police. However, the good news for BYD fans, is that BYD is rumoured to have been given permission to hire the ROC's (Taiwan) Yulon Industries to get the project underway and commence successfully delivering vehicles. Yulon have reputation for efficiency at home and in the PRC. Nice people for US investment ! Just as principled Coda's PRC connections when it comes to human rights.

They can't even get the promotional pictures right, yet they expect people to buy this unknown product using unknown technology from an unknown producer at what probably won't exactly be a bargain basement price if the $58K they charge for it in China is any indication. Talk about building dreams....

Not exactly a steal at the $58,000 it sells for in China. BYD probably realizes this won't sell for Model S money so it will probably be offered at lower prices should it ever come to the US. Substantially lower or they needn't even bother anymore I reckon. Any way, one often reads that China will be the leader when it comes to electric motoring but so far I'm not impressed.

Electron "Not exactly a steal at the $58,000 it sells for in China." Well, it probably would be! Although the BYD should sell for $58,000, ($34,000 after all government subsidies), in fact none have been sold to the public. BYD claims it's sold over 500 to government and fleet customers, and claims to have sold hundreds of test demonstrators to Western countries. This may be true since the City of Los Angeles orders 10. However, none have ever been delivered. The claim by Warren Buffett that the BYD e6 is a successful taxi choice for PRC taxis is true only as far as nearly 100 are operated by the Shenzhen-based Pengcheng Electric Taxi Company. Buffett further claimed that the results of this trial showed that the battery performance under 20-30 minute quick charging, 24 hours per day, giving a range of 180 miles, showed no sign of diminished range or drop in battery performance due to rapid-charging conditions, which according to BYD, "provides a proven track record for its Iron-Phosphate battery technology." , This may be more convincing if Pengcheng Electric Taxi Co wasn't a subsidiary of BYD ! Several Taxi and Hire operators, from differing countries, (including me) expressed interest in buying the BYD. electric taxi, and more precise details. The price, delivery and performance warranties, were very PRC vague, but this may be due to Hertz involvement.